New food options, telehealth care highlight on-campus changes

This semester has been different from any other in Roanoke College’s 178-year history. But Maroons are used to change. Every semester, campus changes a bit, whether it’s a renovated building, a new technological offering or news of an upcoming event.

Plenty has been happening on campus this fall, much of it with an eye on improving health and safety on campus.

Telehealth available around the clock

The College has worked with a national company, TimelyMD, to bring around-the-clock telehealth to campus. For Roanoke’s students, the service is called MaroonCare, and will begin providing assistance to Maroons by the end of this semester.

More details will be available soon to students about how to sign up and how to benefit from the services. TimelyMD specializes in providing telehealth to college students, and has health professionals on call at all times. These professionals provide urgent medical care, emotional support, counseling, health coaching and more.

A fresh, healthy food option

In mid-October, Roanoke College opened its first national chain as a new dining option — Freshens Fresh Food Studio — at 15 North College Ave., next to the Campus Safety office.

Freshens is available to the College community via meal plan swipes or individual item purchase from the menu and also is open to the Roanoke Valley community. Hours and days of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Freshens is closed on Saturdays. 

Freshens, with 500 locations nationwide, is known for using clean ingredients to provide healthy meal options. Lunch and dinner menu items include wraps, rice bowls, flatbreads, smoothies and salads. Freshens also has breakfast pockets available from 9:30 to 11 a.m on days of operation.

Mobile meal ordering

Students can now order food on their phone from campus dining areas. Mobile ordering launched in late October, giving students, faculty and staff another way to eat in a socially distant fashion.

Mobile ordering allows students to set their order pick-up time, either the day of or up to seven days in advance. Once the order is ready for pickup, the student is alerted by text message. They can then come to the dining hall they ordered from and pick up their meal.

Mobile ordering accepts meal plans, Maroon Money and Credit Cards for payment. 

Residence halls get a facelift

During the lengthy break between semesters, two residence halls will undergo some changes.

Chalmers Hall bathrooms will get new finishes, floors, ceramic tile, stalls and better ventilation. Bathrooms at Fox Hall will also undergo minor improvements.

NCAA championships coming (back) to campus

In mid-October, NCAA awarded 15 new Division III championships that will take place in Salem over the next six years. They include the 50th Anniversary of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, which is the Division III championship football game. It will be the first time since 2017 that Salem will host the Stagg Bowl. 

Besides the Stagg Bowl, Salem will host championships in women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, women’s softball and women’s lacrosse. Roanoke College will serve as the site of 10 of the newly announced championships.

Upcoming NCAA championships to be held at Roanoke College: